(Ed note: This post was written on Friday, February 8th, but was posted on February 9th.)

I knew I’d be depressed today, and I was. This evening I ascended the stairs at Bryant Park and entered the tents for the last time.

It’s the end of Fashion Week folks.

Of course, I’m exhausted from all the last minute show reports, late nights in heels and waiting for shows to start. But I’m also sad that it’s ending. I’m sad that all the glitz and glamour will fade away, and that these new people will exit from my realm as quickly as they entered. Why can’t I live like this all the time?

Tonight my final show, and the last show at the tents, was Zang Toi in the Promenade. The front lobby was relaxed, and people were less dressed up than ever before. The security guards were even more kind, perhaps because they knew that in an hour it’d be over.

I walked inside and spotted Malan Breton (a designer and my favorite former Project Runway contestant), in a floor length fur coat chatting outside the tents. My new friend Claire was on the couches and we went outside to take a few photos. She was equally as sad.

On my way back inside, I heard a security guard say “The fur protesters are on their way,” and much commotion was made to secure the building. I wouldn’t see them till I exited that night, they were shouting and holding up dead animals (ferrets and a poodle) .

I found out why the protestors were there when I watched Zang Toi’s show. He uses lots of fur in all of his designs, and many of his patrons were covered in large fur coats. Despite this, the show was amazing. So amazing that the coarse girl seated beside me, who spent the whole time complaining that she wasn’t in the front row (”I get front row for every show” she quipped) suddenly softened as his first piece went down the runway.

“Oh my god,” she said in awe as a woman in goggles and a fur lined hood sauntered down the snow covered runway to Lenny Kravitz’s “American Woman.”

Some of the ball gowns were out of this world, and I saw a few things that point to fall trends. On almost every runway I saw some sort of jaunty plaid, and almost every designer (especially Terexov) had a one shoulder gathered Grecian inspired gown. Expect gathered dresses for fall. Metallic’s, by the way, are here to stay.

After the show, I went into the lobby and spotted Malan again. I was desperate for a photograph with him, but he was chatting up six people at once, and I definitely didn’t want to approach him then. I did, however, hear him do his iconic laugh, which they devoted a montage to during the “Project Runway” reunion show.

I hung around for a moment gazing and sighing. I don’t know if the chance for me to ever attend Fashion Week will happen again, but just in case it didn’t, I never wanted to forget it.

Out on the streets, people were crowded around just to peek inside. The fur protesters were out and I passed them on my way to Pax for a meatless dinner. I rode the bus home in the dark and secretly wished the week would replay itself.

There’s an after party tonight for everyone: celebrities, models, people who worked at Fashion week, the press and all the guests. I’m attending with a few of my new friends, and will post about it when I get back!

After, I went back to the lobby to wait for the Rebecca Taylor show, and in while in line spotted one of my new friends Claire. We both approached the check in line, and because I was checking in under my bosses name (which I have done for every show) they politely kicked me out. My name was on the list, but supposedly their PR company has something against someone else checking in. My boss was furious and called their company up to complain.

A little peeved, I parked myself on a sofa to wait for Reem Acra. Tons of notable people were in the lobby by then, including Stacy London from “What Not to Wear.” A girl sitting next to me was invited by Tyra Banksto go to all the shows, receive a make over, and then do a segment on the show talking about her experiences. Very cool.

Reem Acra was scheduled for 3 p.m. I was given a seat in the back row, but because the Promenade was so big I got to sit in the fourth row. Sophia Bush (the actress) was there and after the show, we pushed past each other in the crowd, she was dressed in a gold sequin dress.

The Reem Acra show was also full of decadent dressings. I noticed that my favorite model, Jessica Stam, was in both shows I’d seen that day.

It was 4 p.m. when Reem Acra finished, and I’d penciled in “lunch” on my schedule then. I walked to the corner to Pax, and a few models still in their make-up from the Reem Acra show came in and ate. I eavesdropped on a pair of girls beside me as they talked about the ballet.

“I didn’t like the first girl,” one of them said. “But Daniel was amazing.” I smiled to myself and wondered if they meant Daniel Ulbricht.

After lunch I was prepared for a long wait at the tents before the Custo Barcelona show. I made phone calls, jotted down notes, and scanned the crowd for Mike Rosenthal (who I spotted yesterday). I realized suddenly, as I looked at tomorrows show schedule, that Friday is the last day of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. I became melancholy, but a text message from a friend cheered me up: possible NYCB tickets on Valentines Day next week.

After waiting 2 hours I pushed through the huge crowd waiting to check in at Custo Barcelona. I was given a standing seat, and waited for thirty minutes, only to not be admitted because the show was over capacity. I was upset that I’d wasted so much time only to be turned away.

I had too choices then: go home, or hang around and try to sneak into the Zac Posen show. I made a few phone calls and looked around for familiar faces. I happily spotted photographer Mike Rosenberg again, looking dashing in the crowd.

I only waited around for fifteen minutes before taking the bus home. My feet hurt so much I took my shoes off in my building elevator and hobbled to my front door.

Tonight on Bravo TV’s “Make me a Supermodel” they showed scenes from the R. Scott French show I attended early in the week. I flipped between that and NYC’s “Full Frontal Fashion” where they were showing the Terexov show. Tomorrow I should be pretty pensive and fragile. Expect a sad post about the end of the week.